In this Thursday, April 11, 2013 photo, people wait in line before the Dr. King Career Fair at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, NY. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

(Newser)
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The US economy added 257,000 jobs last month, a full 20,000 more than economists had expected today's jobs report to show, the Wall Street Journal reports. The unemployment rate ticked up from 5.6% to 5.7%, but as the AP explains, that's partially because more Americans started looking for work, showing confidence in the economy. As Kevin Kingsbury writes for the Journal, "In this case, today’s increase is actually a good sign." But while the labor force participation rate did inch up to 62.9%, last month's 62.7% was a "multi-decade low." Paul Vigna's take: "So, that’s at least movement in the right direction, but it’s not much movement. ... It’s hard to get growth really going with so many people out of the work force."

December's new jobs number was revised significantly upward from 252,000 to 329,000, and November's number was revised all the way up to 414,000—the highest total in 17 years. Plus, average hourly wages rose 12 cents to $24.75, the biggest gain since September 2008. In the past year, hourly pay has increased 2.2%. That is ahead of inflation, which rose just 0.7% in 2014. All in all: The Bureau of Labor Statistics says 2014, in which average monthly job gains were 258,000, was the best year since 1999 for jobs growth.

By slowing down manufacturing. they can also claim that this is a good for the environment. It is sold like one big subliminal package. But just look through all the smoke that is being blown around! Higher taxes reduce consumption. Which of course causes higher prices. Like anything the higher the cost. The less the consumer will spend. I can imagine the low cost lately of energy must really make the green crowd very nervous. So they are doing everything they can to slow down production of energy. About 1/2 of the new jobs were in energy or energy related. The cheap cost of energy is why we also had such a good economic quarter. Anericas economy operates the best when energy costs are at a reasonable level and cost.

Ind_JASS

Feb 8, 2015 8:55 AM CST

CCXVI - - You claim these countries are un-patriotic by going over seas. But this is how the bill Mr Clinton signed designed it to be. NAFTA produced a few jobs along the coast and railways. But basically almost killed manufacturing in America. When all the companies saw a loop hole provided by NAFTA. They were no longer penalized for being overseas. Manufacturing jobs dropped to the lowest level we have ever seen. Over half of manufacturing companies either left the country or went broke due to over seas competition. This translates to alot of jobs!. As I have traveled America the last 15 years. I'm sure many of you also note this if you do travel. You see huge manufacturing sites basically boarded up. Lately with the resurgence of cheap energy. Some new manufacturing firms have come back. But this process is slow. Industries that use large amounts of energy are slowly coming back with the resurgence of cheap natural gas. But of course this administration is deadset against all fossil fuels! So I can about guess this new found energy will again have huge taxes placed on it. To slow it down to.